DU to use UGC NET June, December scores for PhD admissions; increase seats by 20-25%

NEW DELHI: The University of Delhi has decided to use the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) scores of the last June session and December session for admission to its PhD programmes, in the second phase. DU is also going to increase PhD seats by 20 to 25 per cent, the university decided in a meeting.

Candidates who have passed the exam for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) will be given preference in DU PhD admissions. Last year, the central university announced its decision to use UGC NET scores for PhD admissions, giving 70% weightage to the exam. The move came after the UGC gave green light to the higher education institutions to admit students to PhD courses through NET.

St Stephen’s College issue

In the 1273rd meeting of the Executive Council (EC), vice-chancellor Yogesh Singh also constituted a committee to resolve the issues with the St. Stephen’s College. DU and the college have been in a tussle for years over undergraduate admissions through the Common University Entrance Test (CUET). The panel involves professor Anil Kumar Aneja, head of the Department of English, and two EC representatives Aman Kumar and Raj Pal.

In October last year, DU VC formed a three-member panel to hold talks with the college principal John Varghese, following another controversy where the college denied admissions to students under the newly introduced single girl child quota.

Single girl child quota

Additionally, the Academic Council (AC) approved reservation of additional seats for single girl child students in the postgraduate programmes. As a part of this decision, one seat in each PG programme of DU will be earmarked for single girl child students under additional quota.

New curriculum

Further, DU EC gave approval to new syllabus of various programmes under different departments in line with the Under Graduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF), based on the last meeting.